Hoyer: Biden was Strong, Focused, Knowledgeable in State of the Union Speech

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) joined Wolf Blitzer on CNN to discuss President Joe Biden's State of the Union Address. Below is a transcript of his interview and a link to the video:

Click here to watch full interview.

On President Biden's State of the Union Address
"I think it was. I think it was a very compelling, powerful, articulate recitation - not only of what he had promised to do, but what he has accomplished in the three years that he's been the President of the United States. So, I think it was. And it gave lie to the fact - he gave a 45 [minute], maybe a little more than that, speech - very articulate, very well-reasoned, and recited a lot of facts. Yes, there was a teleprompter, but this was not a guy who was not in charge of his thoughts, of his words, and of the country.

"I think anybody who watched that speech saw a very strong, focused, knowledgeable, individual who was having no trouble having repartee with some of his detractors. He was on top of his game. So, I would think the American people saw this president presenting an argument in a way that they thought was very able.

"Now, they may or may not be for him. They may or may not think that what he said was what they wanted to hear him say. But what they did hear is a person who's in charge of not only of himself but of the country and of the future of this country.

"So, I thought it was a very, very compelling address to the American people. And of course, the record that he had to talk about is probably as good a record as any president has had in three years, perhaps since Franklin Roosevelt, certainly during the 43 years that I've been in Congress.

"And he didn't flag for one minute. I think the American public - I mean, that in and of itself spoke to the silliness that none of us who speak with him personally - sit in meetings with him, have given him questions, and hear his answers - that none of us believe was Joe Biden. What Joe Biden is what people saw last night."

On President Biden's Decision to Contrast his Record with his Predecessor's
"I think it was a strategy. You know this guy - not Donald Trump the person, but Donald Trump the public figure - who has been a President of the United States and who accomplished almost none of what he said he was going to accomplish other than that big tax cut.

"He said he was going to do infrastructure. You know, I have this Make It In America agenda that I've been pressing for 15 years. What Joe Biden did is what - better than what Trump said he was going to do on infrastructure and so many other things.

"So, I think what he wanted to do is say - yes, I had a predecessor without mentioning him, the person. Which frankly, you can figure out whether he has the characteristics to be president of the greatest country on earth - but that aside - but this is what he didn't do or did do, and this is why I'm asking you to continue the policies that are making America, frankly, one of the best economic engines - the best economic engine, as a matter of fact - in the world. That's a great, great accomplishment."

On Republican Inaction on the Bipartisan Border and Foreign Aid Legislation
"Look, I think the president believes we need to act to make sure our borders are secure, act to make sure that people are not coming into the country who are not authorized to come into the country, to make sure that people aren't bringing illicit drugs and other items into the country. And he worked very hard with some very, as he pointed out, conservative - including [James] Lankford - senators to reach a bipartisan agreement. The problem is that the Republicans in the House of Representatives do not look for consensus. They do not look for agreement. They don't look to get things done.

"What they look to do is make their point, notwithstanding the fact that their point is not supported by their colleagues in the Senate, by the President of the United States, or by House Democrats. So, they're simply a, 'Do it our way, or no way crowd.' And they rejected a very strong step forward. That was the President's point. That's Lankford's point.

"The President, the former President, his predecessor's point is, it's not good for my politics. That's what he said. Politics over people. Politics over people. That was the [former] President's point."

On President Biden's Response to the Israel-Hamas War
"Look, I think the President is doing exactly the right thing. A - he said that Israel needs to defeat Hamas. Hamas has been terrorizing Israel for a long period of time and has as a central tenet of its program: kill Jews and eliminate Israel. Any country that confronts that kind of an enemy understands it's got to respond, and very frankly former responses have not worked.

"[Israel] constantly had additional attacks: rocket attacks, personal attacks by Hamas notwithstanding peace agreements or cessation of fire. So, I think he was absolutely right. And I think he's absolutely right on the facts that humanitarian concerns need to be at the forefront of our actions.

"I think the deployment, as a matter of fact, I had called the White House and suggested that we put some hospital ships out there as well so that we can get people who need help, emergency care, hospital care, have a facility which is not in harm's way, not being hidden under or around or by Hamas in a hospital or in a school or in some other humanitarian related agency.

"So that I think he made the right balance in defeating terrorism, defeating Hamas, but also making sure that innocent civilians: men, women, and children are able to get out of harm's way and get the treatment, food, and nutrition that they need. So, I think he set the right balance and we need to pursue that."

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